devil's advocate
3 synonyms and 2 antonyms for devil's advocate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Someone who argues a position they do not personally hold, in order to test an argument or provoke fuller discussion.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use devil's advocate
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Almost always used with play: to play devil's advocate. Announcing it beforehand signals that the objection is a stress test, not a real opinion — which is also why it can irritate people who suspect it is a cover for a real one.
Etymology
A translation of Latin advocatus diaboli, the informal name for the official appointed in Roman Catholic canonisation proceedings to argue against a candidate's sainthood.
Full origin of devil's advocate →Frequently asked questions
What does it mean to play devil's advocate?
It means putting the opposing case on purpose, whether or not you believe it, so that an idea gets properly stress-tested. Saying so out loud matters: it signals you are probing the argument, not stating your own view.
What is the difference between a devil's advocate and a contrarian?
A devil's advocate argues against a position temporarily and deliberately, to test it, and would usually say so out loud. A contrarian genuinely and habitually takes the opposing view whatever the subject. One is a technique; the other is a disposition.
Is playing devil's advocate a bad thing?
Not in itself — it is a recognised way of exposing weak reasoning before a decision is made. It gets a poor reputation when someone uses the phrase to float a view they actually hold, or to keep debating a sensitive topic at someone else's expense.
Where does the apostrophe go?
After the l and before the s: devil's advocate. The advocate belongs to one devil, so it is a singular possessive.
Where does the phrase come from?
From the Latin advocatus diaboli, the role in Catholic canonisation proceedings whose job was to argue against declaring a person a saint by presenting every objection and doubt. The opposing role was known as God's advocate.